That’s exactly what was given to two Grande Prairie women last weekend through A Gift from the Heart private fundraiser put on by the local CCSVI Society of Grande Prairie and District.

The event raised a total of $30,000 which will be used to send the two women, who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis, to the Synergy Health Concepts in Costa Mesa, California, for venus angioplasty (CCSVI) treatment.

Dr. Michael Arata from the American clinic was at the event and explained some of the science behind the treatment which is not available in Canada. He was clear that CCSVI (Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency) treatment is not a cure for MS and not specifically a treatment for MS. Rather it is a treatment for autonomic dysfunction, but it can have significant effects in those suffering from neurological disorders such as MS and Parkinson disease.

“The majority of patients will see a response in their autonomic nervous system,” he said, noting that response is immediate.

That response can range greatly depending on the patient. Those with MS often suffer from vision problems, weak and stiff muscles often with painful muscle spasms, tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, trunk of the body or face, clumsiness, and difficulty with balance, bladder control problems and fatigue.

In some local cases, the response to the CCSVI treatment has meant greater mobility, while others with a more aggressive form of the disease may have minor success with the treatment. Though the results may be limited, they do offer the hope of a better quality of life.

The personal stories shared during the fundraiser were both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Slammed by a disease that has no mercy, one family has come together stronger than ever, their lives forever altered by this disease that seems to run rampant in Alberta.

The province has a high prevalence of the disease, with an estimated 55,000-75,000 Canadians living with multiple sclerosis. Prevalence rates across the country range from one MS case per 500 people to one in 1,000, according to the MS Society of Canada.

Last Saturday night the community came together with people from Grande Prairie, Wembley, Beaverlodge and a few from Edmonton, to aid the two local women with this disease.

“What a great community we live in,” said organizer Debbie Golden. “We are so fortunate.”

Yes, we are.

The women will receive the CCSVI treatment and also have money for the follow-up care that Alberta Health Services will not provide, such as physiotherapy, massage, and acupuncture that may be needed to help with mobility, said Golden.

The treatments may or may not make a huge difference in these women’s lives, but with the option to take that step comes a glimmer of hope that can make a world of difference.